Vasculature of the Gallbladder, Anterior View

Description

Positioned on the visceral surface of the liver, the gallbladder is shown from an anterior perspective with its fundus projecting inferiorly and its body and infundibulum tapering medially toward the neck. Arterial branches course over the peritoneal surface and along the gallbladder bed, consistent with the cystic artery reaching the organ near the neck and distributing along the medial and lateral aspects toward the fundus. Venous channels track back from the gallbladder wall and fossa toward the hepatic parenchyma, reflecting cystic venous drainage that often communicates directly with intrahepatic portal tributaries. Orientation of the cystic artery in relation to the cystic duct and common hepatic duct is the point. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, misidentification within Calot’s triangle can lead to hemorrhage or, worse, bile duct injury when an aberrant right hepatic artery or a short cystic artery runs close to the common bile duct. This anterior layout also supports teaching why gallbladder inflammation can cause dense adhesions in the hepatocystic triangle and why bleeding from the gallbladder bed persists even after clipping the cystic artery. Surgical anatomy courses, hepatobiliary procedure manuals, and endoscopy or radiology teaching files can use this plate to pair biliary ductal anatomy with the vascular pattern that guides safe dissection and clip placement. It also fits pathology and anatomy lab curricula covering acute cholecystitis, gangrenous cholecystitis, and postoperative hemorrhage from the gallbladder fossa. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.